Upload Storage file action

Files can be uploaded to a bot for further processing using the Upload Storage file action.

Recommended Configurations

Note: This action is available for Task Bots only.

When using the Upload Storage file action, we recommend that you configure the following settings and variables: Shows correct variables for the Upload Storage file action.

  • Save the file as a variable using File type and mark as input. This variable is then selected as the File input variable for the action.
    Note: Variable is the only valid option because the file is stored in the bot run device through this predefined variable.
  • Enter the full path for the exact location of the file on the desktop or local device.
  • Assign the result to a String variable that holds the storage path for the file after upload. This output variable must be a String and should be used to feed a Select File element of a form or another File input variable of a bot.
Note: Most major MIME supported types are PNG, JPEG, CSV, XLS, PDF, EXE, and DLL.

Upload Storage file V2 action

Uploads a file stream to Process Composer storage and associates it with an existing request reference. You can use this action when a streamed file must be attached to a request without using a desktop file path.
Note: This action is available for Task Bots and API Tasks.

Settings

  • Ensure the relevant packages are enabled and updated to support file streaming, such as Microsoft 365 OneDrive, SharePoint, Microsoft 365 Outlook, and REST Web Services.
  • Specify the storage file URI in the Variable field.
    Enter your file input variable.
    Note:
    • Make sure to use only the Variable option. The variable must be a file input that comes from the process (Select File in Human Task). Do not use the Control Room file or Desktop file options.
    • This value is required and must support file stream access.
  • In the Request Reference to associate the Storage file with field, specify the existing request reference used to resolve the request ID for the upload. This value is required.
  • Assign the result to a String variable that holds the storage path for the file after upload. This output variable must be a String and should be used to feed a Select File element of a form or another File input variable of a bot.
Note: Most major MIME supported types are PNG, JPEG, CSV, XLS, PDF, EXE, and DLL.

Result: Returns the uploaded storage reference as a String variable.

Example: Bot needs to attach a file in the middle of a process

To enable a bot to attach a file in the middle of a process:

  1. Build a form using the Document element.
  2. Build a bot that contains the following variables as shown:
    • File variable as input (such as File_Reference_In_Storage)
    • String variable as output (such as File_Path_In_Storage)
    Added user variables
  3. Include the bot as part of a Bot Task in the same process.
  4. Select the Upload option for the File input variable (File_Reference_In_Storage):

    Upload input value

  5. Include the form as part of a Human Task in a process after the Bot Task.
  6. Feed the String variable output (File_Path_In_Storage) of the Bot Task into the Document element input of the Human Task:
    Note: With the release of the Next-Gen Process Composer in Automation 360 v. 37 and the addition of the Expression builder, there is a change in how the input variables are displayed. In the new editor, the expression will appear as: :
    amp;Bot{output}{File_Path_In_Storage}.String:toFile$    . Whereas in the legacy editor, you must manually enter (build) the expression directly in the Document element field and include the String variable output to feed it into the form, because a Document element can only accept a variable of type File. Therefore, you cannot retrieve the String variable using the variable picker method.

    See the following video to understand how to create a variable expression in the expression builder.

  7. Use the Upload Storage file command with the File input variable (File_Reference_In_Storage): Upload Storage file action
    • The file located at the local path (c:/Desktop/MyFile.pdf) will be uploaded to the storage.
    • The reference of that file in the storage will be stored in the String variable which can be used for further processing inside the process.
    • In this example, the Document element will use that reference and render the file in a form.